Blakely returns, fumbles again

Mike Blakely returned to the field for Auburn in Saturday’s 24-7 loss to Arkansas at Jordan-Hare stadium but it was a case of déjà vu for the redshirt freshman running back, whose day ended once again with a fumble.

Blakely, who had not seen the field since fumbling at the one-yard line with 1:40 left in the third quarter against ULM, led Auburn with seven carries for 38 yards but fumbled at the Auburn 40-yard line with 11 minutes left and the Tigers trailing 17-7.

“We started trying to gash them,” Blakely said. “We came in (at halftime) and talked and knew what we had to do. We just went out and tried to execute the way we know how.”

Arkansas capitalized as Dennis Johnson scored a two-yard touchdown, his second of the game, on the ensuing drive to make it 24-7.

Auburn coach Gene Chizik said Blakely’s playing status will be assessed but his issues with ball security won’t mean he won’t see the field again.

“He had some good runs. We have to go back and see exactly why that happened, but anytime you have guys that fumble the football, you are not comfortable with any of that,” Chizik said. “It doesn’t mean that you are afraid to put them back into the game or that he will never carry the ball again. I’m not going to say that, but he wasn’t the only one to put the ball on the ground today.”

Emory Blake also fumbled and it led to an Arkansas field goal. Blake had 10 receptions for 118 yards and touchdown.